THE Manila Police District said Friday its operatives seized about 20 kilograms of shabu wrapped in carbon paper during a buy-bust operation in Ongpin, Manila.
The MPD said the shabu had a street value of P100 million and that two suspects had been arrested.
The district made its statement even as Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday ordered the city’s 7,168 elected officials to submit themselves to mandatory drug tests that will start Monday.
Those who will fail to appear at the Manila Barangay Bureau office will face severe sanctions, Estrada said.
He is expected to oversee the screening of the initial batch of village officials at city hall starting at 9 a.m. on Nov. 7.
“We will not entertain any excuses or alibis,” Estrada said.
“They have been warned before. This is compulsory.”
Initial reports said operatives of the MPD’s Station 11 bought 100 grams of shabu from suspects Rommel Rodriguez and Albert Gasingan.
Police seized the drugs, a .45-cal. handgun and P300,000 in marked money from the two.
Identification cards of Chinese nationals were also recovered from the suspects.
Rodriguez and Gasingan face life in prison if convicted.
Earlier, Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said the supply and demand for shabu had a direct effect on its price.
“During the first 100 days in office of President Duterte, I can say we are winning the campaign against illegal drugs,” Dela Rosa said.
He said the supply of shabu in the market had been reduced by 70 to 80 percent, and that its price was continuing to rise.
It is claimed that a kilo of shabu cost P5 million in the past, but now it costs P25 million.